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Crossover brawlers have an obvious appeal. Allowing players to step into the shoes of their favorite characters and face off against opponents from a variety of different franchises helps keep things fun and interesting. The diversity of opponents means that strategies are always evolving as well.
With the addition of Gremlins villain Stripe to the roster, MultiVersus gains a wild and dangerous new character. It might not be immediately obvious how best to use Stripe, however, thanks to his aggressive move-set and erratic manner. Here's everything that new players need to know about getting started with this reptilian Assassin.
Stripe's Grudge And Buzzsaw
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Stripe is an Assassin, a class focused on high DPS at the expense of a solid defense. He's all about getting in opponents' faces fast and staying there. His unique passive ability is Grudgeholder, which causes him to automatically paint an enemy with a target after he lands a melee attack. This target causes his Sharpshooter special move to automatically hit his enemy regardless of where they are in the arena.
The target is short-lived, so players will need to take their shot quickly, since Sharpshooter's range is otherwise terrible. Sharpshooter can be used as part of almost any combo against a targeted opponent and is particularly good at cheap eliminations against enemies already floating around the arena's edges. It's impossible to overstate just how important intelligent use of Grudgeholder is to Stripe's strategy.
Bouncin' Buzzsaw throws a saw at opponents. This projectile travels along the floor and even sides of the arena. Stripe can charge the Buzzsaw and guide its trajectory as well when using it in the air. One of the best uses of the Buzzsaw is to counter an edge-guarding opponent by forcing them to back away and let Stripe back onto the platform. The Buzzsaw can also encircle one's allies in a 2v2 match, preventing enemies from getting close easily. These moves make Stripe devastating in the right hands.
How To Play Stripe
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Doing damage is only half the battle in MultiVersus. The player still needs a way of getting opponents out of the arena to eliminate them. Fortunately, Stripe has several moves that are excellent for this purpose. His best options include Chomp, All Claw'd Up, and Ride 'Em, Cowboy. Chomp in particular is excellent in this regard. Knowing how to work a given stage is important for winning, and knowing one's launchers is a crucial start.
Stripe's signature perk He's The Leader makes him much better at bouncing off of projectiles. This is most useful when Stripe is teamed up with a projectile-focused partner, though Stripe can leap off his opponent's projectiles as well. Doing so is difficult, but Stripe players who learn the timing can be deadly adversaries. Alternatively, Feeding After Midnight can allow Stripe to transfer his debuffs to opponents, which opens up a wealth of other strategic options depending upon team composition. Mastering a new character is always difficult, but learning to work with Stripe's signature perks can make the process a bit easier.
Stripe should be played aggressively, and one of the most important tools in his kit when it comes to aggression is Dynamite Boom, a move that automatically detonates a bomb when its timer runs out or when manually triggered by inputting the command a second time. This move launches Stripe at opponents, damaging any with whom he collides. Dynamite Boom has excellent knockback and combos well, but does damage to Stripe, forcing the player to be careful with its usage. Dynamite Boom can also be used to get back onto the stage if Stripe has been knocked off. For those willing to learn this versatile Assassin, Stripe is worth far more than just memes.
MultiVersus is available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.